US ready to help Pakistan over Afghanistan terrorism concerns, says Rubio

WASHINGTON: The United States has acknowledged Pakistan’s growing concerns over terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio signalling Washington’s willingness to play a constructive role in easing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, Rubio said the US had heard Pakistan’s concerns and would consider supporting efforts to address the security challenges if it could make a meaningful contribution.

“Pakistan is concerned about terrorist attacks that are being sponsored from the territory of Afghanistan,” Rubio said, adding that Islamabad believed the Afghan Taliban had failed to do enough to prevent militant groups from carrying out attacks.

“We obviously have heard those concerns on their part. We obviously don’t want them to be targeted for terrorism. So if there’s a productive role for us to play, we would play it,” he added.

Rubio also acknowledged that Washington did not have particularly close relations with the Afghan Taliban but stressed that the US opposed terrorism regardless of its origin or intended targets.

His remarks come amid worsening relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad repeatedly urging Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries operating from Afghan soil, particularly those allegedly linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Pakistan maintains that these militant networks use Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks against its security forces and civilians. However, the Afghan Taliban have rejected Islamabad’s allegations and denied allowing Afghan territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan.

The diplomatic tensions intensified further on Saturday after Pakistan’s Information Ministry criticised the Afghan Taliban leadership for what it described as a persistent failure to address cross-border terrorism.

The ministry responded to remarks by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who blamed Islamabad’s policies for the continuing dispute and rejected Kabul’s responsibility for the security situation.

Pakistan maintained that the Taliban administration’s failure to act against terrorist groups remained the biggest obstacle to restoring normal relations between the neighbouring countries.

Several diplomatic efforts have failed to produce a breakthrough. Previous negotiations facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye, followed by China-backed initiatives, did not result in a lasting agreement.

Russia has also offered to facilitate a settlement. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan recently said Islamabad remained open to sincere diplomatic efforts while emphasising that negotiations could not be unconditional.

Meanwhile, tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border continue, with intermittent clashes reported in recent weeks, including incidents in Kurram and Angoor Adda.

Rubio’s statement signals Washington’s readiness to support constructive engagement, although no specific mediation initiative or diplomatic framework has been announced.